Mr. Boston Official Bartender's Guide

The Vieux Carré is a slow-sipper. It's not a drink that you try to down in two minutes. No, this is a drink that needs to be relished, savored—a cocktail that almost slows down the passage of time. The name of this drink comes from a French nickname for the French Quarter in New Orleans meaning “old square”. It was invented at the city's famed Carousel Bar, and like the Big Easy itself, blends together diverse elements with strong characters to create something great. The use of Bénédictine and two different types of bitters lends this cocktail a multi-dimensional flavor that is fantastic in its complexity. If you're in New Orleans, be sure to stop by the birthplace of the Vieux Carré to enjoy one on the revolving Carousel Bar.

Cantaloupe Juice: Puree about 1/2 cup peeled, diced, and seeded cantaloupe in blender. Strain through cheesecloth-lined sieve.

The story of the Aviation cocktail is a bit of a Cinderella story. According to David Wondrich, it has been flying under the radar ever since it made its first appearance on a cocktail menu in 1911. Hugo Ensslin first published the recipe for this lovely little libation in his Recipes for Mixed Drinks in 1916, combining gin, lemon juice, maraschino and crème de violette liqueurs. Unfortunately maraschino and crème de violette weren't exactly commonplace on most bar shelves at the time, so the Aviation had a shaky takeoff. Eventually, crème de violette disappeared entirely from the American market, resulting in a mouth-puckering variation of the original recipe. When it finally reappeared some 40 years later, the Aviation was revived. Crème de violette adds a delicate floral note, which balances the tartness of the healthy dose of citrus and gin.

The Harlem cocktail is a bit of an enigma. It is clearly one of New York's neighborhood keepsakes, as it bears the name of one of its five boroughs—much like the Manhattan. Unfortunately, little is known about its history though. Speculation has linked the Harlem to a few different cocktails, but no one really knows for sure where it comes from. It is almost reminiscent of a pre-Prohibition style cocktail, except that it calls for pineapple instead of citrus. In any case, the Harlem has an extraordinary flavor profile. Gin lends its herbs and botanicals, maraschino imparts its red-fruity goodness, and pineapple tops it all off with just a kiss of tropical flavor. If you're looking to break out of the ordinary, the Harlem is definitely for you.